Faith and Mental health

08/01/2022

Such a clear message on the power of the gospel for salvation and healing by a much loved evangelist. What a legacy. https://youtu.be/xk3JKDNEPx0

This message was preached by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke at the Hillsong Conference (2005).For more resources visit :http://www.bonnke.net/cfan/Reinhard Bonn...

12/09/2020

My just turned 16-year-old daughter has just finished reading Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' which she excitedly asked for for her 16th birthday. The book was no disappointment. Just a simple paperback with a stitched laceration on the front cover and green page edges, she devoured the story and sat quiet and emotional at the end.

Why such a reaction from a gothic horror novel? The book is more than a monster story. Like my daughter, I'm moved when I think about the themes. Dr Frankenstein's cause is described as benevelont. He wants to help humanity by bringing life to the dead. By his own will he engages a macabre set of raw parts in the process of reanimation. As 'success' sparks to life, Dr Frankenstein's creation makes its first foray into the world just like an innocent child. Yet because of its hideous appearance, people recoil in fear and the monster is shunned. In rejection and real emotional pain its interactions with the world become progressively more bitter, vengeful and violent as it become bent on destroying its maker for creating it so horrendous. The story illustrates how self-definition is created and how negative world experiences reveal and shape who we are.

In contrast to Dr Frankenstein, having God as the creator and definer of our sense of self is as light is to darkness. While 'Frankenstein' is a gothic rendering of the tragedy befalling self-definition, the Bible depicts its salvation. Created by a loving God, in His likeness, in His image. Fearfully and wonderfully made. And although our journey through life corrupts and disfigures our own created innocence, Jesus takes our corruption upon Himself to restore us to beauty.

Isaiah 52:14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness -

05/09/2020

David Crowder and our first garden experience...

https://youtu.be/NeOyFxjkqKY

Crowder – Official music video for “Back To The Garden” Subscribe to Crowder on YouTube: https://crowder.lnk.to/youtubesubscribe Get the latest album, I KNOW...

05/09/2020

Believing a Lie
In the very beginning of the Bible, in the Garden of Eden, God created the first man and woman in His image and in His likeness. He became our Father. In just a few sentences further on however, entered another father... of lies. He was able, very subtly, to cast doubt on who their real Father was and they believed it. The ruin of humanity was caused by their belief, in a lie.

When that happened Adam and Eve were changed in themselves and changed in their response to God. They didn't work properly, didn't feel right and felt alienated from Him who loved them. We too, can be deceived into believing a lie or lies about ourselves. Lies such as "I'll never be happy", "Marriages never work", "I'm unlovable" and many others affect our mental health as surely as a petri dish grows mould.

That's why truth is so important. As Jesus said the truth will set you free! Your true Father says you are loved, you are unique, you are gifted, you are planned and your are mine. That is truth. Our task? To believe it! And that takes some work.

If a lie has breached your defenses 1- you will need to strongly identify it is a lie 2- suffocate it by disallowing any more air time (you can acknowledge it's there but don't be tempted to believe it) and 3- speak truth over yourself and even better, find someone attuned to how you're feeling who will commit to speaking truth over you regularly.

See the lie as the germ of disaster that it really is and ruthlessly crush it.

01/09/2020

James Clear write the book 'Atomic Habits' and his choice quotes are very good.

The 3-2-1 Newsletter: 3 ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, 1 question to ponder. 3-2-1: On building habits that last and the link between success and failure August 27, 2020 | by James Clear 3 IDEAS FROM ME I. “It's better to do less than you hoped than nothing at all. No zero days.” …

31/08/2020

Our bodies and our minds are made to withstand stress. We are made resilient, elastic, able to bear up under strain. In that sense we are similar to any structural material like steel for example. A piece of steel remains elastic to a point. It can get stretched and spring back into shape. However even for steel, there is a breaking point. There is a point where if the steel is placed under an amount of stress that surpsses its ability to resist, it will get bent out of shape and won't return to its original state. Our brains are similar. God wired them to be resilient, however stress them out too much and our finely balanced neurological sytems start to show signs of strain and we too can get bent out of shape. We get tired, agitated, moody, anxious and it can keep travelling south from there...

That's why we need to monitor our stress levels, especiallly our health, work and relationships. Keep motivated but put your inner critic in time out and be kind to yourself. Get plenty of sleep, keep connected, eat well, exercise and include some fun in your routine to keep stress levels manageable.

31/08/2020

Psalm 23: 4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me.

When you look at a science picture of our brains, the surface appears like a series of crevasses or chasms running in all directions. A crevasse to fall into at times maybe? Suffering from deperession can feel like that, like the valley you're walking through is your own mind. I think the words above from Psalm 23 are broad enough to include this perspective as well. God created our minds, He knows that in our emotions and thoughts, we can get into dark places. We can feel ashamed, condemned and desperately alone, even to the point of giving up.

While recognising the desperation and darkness, King David who wrote this Psalm does not depsair without hope. Although he is threatened by evil he speaks out in faith "...thou art with me". Believing that God is with us in the pain, in the valley is counter intuitive. You dont feel like God is there, that's why it's known as the valley of the shadow of death but the Bible says He is there. Trust God's perspective even when it goes against your own and you will find comfort.

26/08/2020

Neuma.Church will be hosting a Conversation on Mental Health with Dr Danny Cheah on Wednesday 26 August 2020 at 7:30pm to 8:30pm (AEST). You will be able to watch this here on Neuma.Church Dr Danny is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and the Head of Clinical Service at the Alfred Hospital Child and Youth Mental Health Service.

24/08/2020

Fight for your mental health. Jesus is fighting for you.
https://youtu.be/8VGwVtYxEy8

English :This is the original Everything skit by Mission Baltimore. Please watch all the way through. It's an incredible performance that shows a teenager's ...

24/08/2020

Here's some life giving words...

Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation —
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

23/08/2020

Here's some great tips too from Jazz Thornton that may help someone as well. Once you start having a look around at the material that both her and Geneveive Mora have created at www.thevoicesofhope.org you'll find so much inspiration and helpful information. Share it around, these guys are doing an awesome job.

https://hope1032.com.au/stories/life/health-and-fitness/2019/from-suicidal-to-joyful-jazz-thorntons-steps-to-mental-health-recovery/

In telling the story of her recovery from severe mental illness, Jazz Thornton shares some of the steps she took towards healing and good mental health.

23/08/2020

Great message today by Lucas Connell. Thanks for the truth and inspiration and for introducing us to Jazz Thornton and www.thevoicesofhope.org. After 14 su***de attempts and a multitude of hospital admissions, everything turned around for Jazz after a friend inspired her to fight for her mental health. Then she encountered a healing moment with God - great story!

https://youtu.be/St9gqp3AYJQ

“I woke up sometime later in the intensive care unit after being placed in a coma. Our mental illness’s nearly killed us, but they didn’t." This month we are...

22/08/2020

Such practical advice for how to move forward with confidence during COVID by a much loved Pastor...

https://youtu.be/JSw7fLGV3-Q

——— Listen to Pastor Rick's daily Bible teaching and subscribe to his Daily Hope email devotional at http://pastorrick.com Connect with Rick! Facebook: https...

21/08/2020

Stretch Out Your Hand

Mark 3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

In this Bible story, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. It's an amazing healing when put into the perspective of what medical science today would have to do to restore a withered hand. Is that even possible? But the man stretched it out and it was healed. This story can also connect with how we may feel at times. Withered is a strong word, however it creates images in my mind of something adversely affected by time, the elements, the environment, factors that impact all of us at one time or another. Being deprived of what is necessary or good can leave us feeling withered.

For the man to get healed he had to believe enough to stretch out his hand, in amongst some stiff opposition I might add, but he stretched it out. That's no small detail. Faith played a significant part in this healing. How easy is it to shut down, to close off, to withdraw. Isn't that what withering does? But the man stretched it out. Amazing!

04/08/2020

DEAR MAN
I thought I would share this video with you guys. DEAR MAN is an acronym - you’ll find out what when you watch the video. It’s basically an awesome assertiveness technique developed by Marsha Linehan and part of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Hope you like it and find it helpful. It really works well with practice and is one of the many practical skills taught within DBT. The Sunrise Residential Treatment Centre have done a great job with this video animation. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/el_O72aTZzE

You can use the DBT skill DEAR MAN to resolve a conflict or make a request in a respectful and effective way that maintains a relationship. “DEAR MAN” is an ...

04/08/2020

Marsha Linehan has done so much to help people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Her model of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy combined with acceptance and validation has created an oasis for those who suffer from turbulent emotions and impulsive behaviours. There are many clinicians and clinics who practice DBT which involves the key modules of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Spectrum spectrumbpd.com.au for Borderline Personality Disorder in Richmond Victoria is a key service provider and source of information for those seeking treatment.

https://youtu.be/bULL3sSc_-I

Marsha Linehan, creator of the highly-regarded Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), discusses Borderline Personality Disorder from the viewpoint of a clinicia...

04/08/2020

"Take a simple idea and take it seriously."
—Charlie Munger

In a world prone to information overload, we can so easily get caught up in thinking information is all we need to make us feel better or solve our problems. We search the web ad nauseam looking for one answer after another only to return and repeat that process soon after without really getting what we need. But there’s real wisdom in this quote from an investment whizz actually, Charlie Munger who is the business partner of Warren Buffett. He hones in on the fact that what we really need is less information and greater commitment to apply what we know.

I would really suggest that this works pretty well with the Bible. Take a simple truth and take it seriously. For example, “Jesus calms the storm” from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus calmed a storm! There was a storm raging and he calmed it. Simple truth but if I take that seriously what could that mean for me? Could Jesus calm my anxious thoughts? Could Jesus bring control into my chaos? Well if you take him seriously the answer is YES! To take him seriously, just reach out to him and pray “Jesus, I believe you calmed the storm and I’ve got a few storms in my life. I believe you can help me...” No prior relationship with Jesus is necessary. He wants to help you and meet you right where you’re at. Just give him a chance...